Compound for dehorning cattle



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUFUS B. REESER, OF BUENA VISTA, ILLINOIS.

COMPOUND FOR DEHORNING CATTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,129, dated May 26, 1891. Application filed May 15, 1890. Serial No. 351,949. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, RUFUS 13. Emma, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Buena .Vista, in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compounds forDehorning Cattle; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a compound for dehorning cattle; and it has for its object to provide a compound of this character designed to be applied to the embryo horns of young cattle and serve to effectually destroy the same without the danger and pain incident to the methods nowin Vogue, such as sawing the horns at a more advanced age of the cattle.

The compound consists of the following ingredients, combined substantially in the pro portions stated: nitric acid, six drains; tincture iodine, two drains. To the above maybe added a suitable quantity of burnt sugar for the purpose of coloring.

In compounding, the acid and iodine are mixed together, which, by reason of theircombined chemical properties, are caused to boil for the space of a few minutes and then graduallyeease, when the compound is ready for use.

To use the compound the hair is first cut from around the embryo horn and the compound applied thereto with a small sponge or camels-hair pencil. Aftera period of twenty minutes a second and final application is made and allowed to dry. The effect ofthe 0011]- pound is to destroy the life of the horn, Which will in the course of four or five weeks dropoff, when hair will grow in its stead and no scar remain. The proper age for dehorning the calves is when they are from one to nine weeks old.

The efliciency and use of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. By its use cattle can be dehorned Without the danger and pain incident to the more cumbersome methods now employed, its application is so simple as to enable any one to use it, and the cost is reduced to a minimum.

I claim as my invention- The herein-described compound for dehorning cattle, consisting of nitric acid, tincture of iodine, and burnt sugar, combined in substantially the proportions specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUFUS B. REESER.

Witnesses:

CYRUS RIOHAET, J AOKSON RICHART. 

